PTI ultimatum: PM chides foes ‘seeking to paralyse Pakistan’
Nawaz says those who believe in protests will fail miserably
PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Coming down hard on his political foes, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said certain people wanted to derail the process of development and progress in the country but ‘they would fail miserably’ and their protest plan would meet the same fate as the 2014 sit-ins.
Chairing separate meetings of the Central Working Party (CWP) and Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the ruling party, Nawaz Sharif said democracy gives the right to protest but it should be within defined limits.
“They only believe in protests. They want to paralyse Pakistan through their negative politics,” the premier said in an apparent reference to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to an official handout released following the meeting.
The PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) staged a marathon sit-in in Islamabad in an unsuccessful attempt to topple the government. The PTI has once again started a political campaign for the accountability of the PM and his family in the wake of Panama Papers.
The PTI chief Imran Khan has given the government until October 30 and threatened to lock down the capital if it did not accept his demand to initiate an impartial probe into the offshore companies of the PM’s family.
The current political situation, Kashmir issue, India’s unprovoked aggression along the Line of Control (LoC), internal security situation and economic and power issues were also discussed during the meetings.
The CEC also adopted a unanimous resolution over the issue of Kashmir and vowed to continue political, diplomatic and moral support of Kashmiris’ struggle and their right of self-determination.
The committee also approved schedule for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) intra-party elections at the federal and Punjab level. According to approved schedule, nomination papers would be submitted on October 17, while results would be declared on October 18.
Similarly, polls to elect office bearers in Punjab would be held on October 19. According to the Elections Commission of Pakistan law, all political parties are required to hold intra party elections, which is a prerequisite for the allotment of symbol to contest next general elections.
Nawaz said his government was committed to the Kashmir cause. “India is sadly mistaken if it thinks that a freedom struggle can be equated with terrorism. Burhan Wani was a freedom fighter and pride of Kashmiris and no one can take away from him that pride,” he said.
Wani was killed by Indian forces on July 8. Since the killing, the Indian-held Kashmir has witnessed worst protests in which over hundred people have been killed and many thousand sustained injuries.
The PM said when the PML-N took over the reins of the country in 2013 the economic and security situations were in disarray. “We have overcome challenges successfully. Terrorist activities have been curtailed and economy has been strengthened,” he said.
Talking with reference to energy crisis, he said his government had been working day and night to overcome the challenge. “Mining has formally been started in Thar and by 2018 more than 10,000MW of electricity will be added to the national grid, while land for Bhasha dam has been acquired,” he added.
Nawaz Sharif said some Rs1,000 billion had been spent to strengthen road infrastructure. Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier claimed that Balochistan would benefit the most from the 46 billion dollar project.
The PML-N CEC condemned the gross human rights violations by Indian forces and resolved that lasting peace in the country could not be achieved in the region without settlement of Kashmir issue. The CEC also condemned India’s unprovoked aggression along the LoC and offered fateha for the two army men killed in Indian shelling.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2016.
Coming down hard on his political foes, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said certain people wanted to derail the process of development and progress in the country but ‘they would fail miserably’ and their protest plan would meet the same fate as the 2014 sit-ins.
Chairing separate meetings of the Central Working Party (CWP) and Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the ruling party, Nawaz Sharif said democracy gives the right to protest but it should be within defined limits.
“They only believe in protests. They want to paralyse Pakistan through their negative politics,” the premier said in an apparent reference to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to an official handout released following the meeting.
The PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) staged a marathon sit-in in Islamabad in an unsuccessful attempt to topple the government. The PTI has once again started a political campaign for the accountability of the PM and his family in the wake of Panama Papers.
The PTI chief Imran Khan has given the government until October 30 and threatened to lock down the capital if it did not accept his demand to initiate an impartial probe into the offshore companies of the PM’s family.
The current political situation, Kashmir issue, India’s unprovoked aggression along the Line of Control (LoC), internal security situation and economic and power issues were also discussed during the meetings.
The CEC also adopted a unanimous resolution over the issue of Kashmir and vowed to continue political, diplomatic and moral support of Kashmiris’ struggle and their right of self-determination.
The committee also approved schedule for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) intra-party elections at the federal and Punjab level. According to approved schedule, nomination papers would be submitted on October 17, while results would be declared on October 18.
Similarly, polls to elect office bearers in Punjab would be held on October 19. According to the Elections Commission of Pakistan law, all political parties are required to hold intra party elections, which is a prerequisite for the allotment of symbol to contest next general elections.
Nawaz said his government was committed to the Kashmir cause. “India is sadly mistaken if it thinks that a freedom struggle can be equated with terrorism. Burhan Wani was a freedom fighter and pride of Kashmiris and no one can take away from him that pride,” he said.
Wani was killed by Indian forces on July 8. Since the killing, the Indian-held Kashmir has witnessed worst protests in which over hundred people have been killed and many thousand sustained injuries.
The PM said when the PML-N took over the reins of the country in 2013 the economic and security situations were in disarray. “We have overcome challenges successfully. Terrorist activities have been curtailed and economy has been strengthened,” he said.
Talking with reference to energy crisis, he said his government had been working day and night to overcome the challenge. “Mining has formally been started in Thar and by 2018 more than 10,000MW of electricity will be added to the national grid, while land for Bhasha dam has been acquired,” he added.
Nawaz Sharif said some Rs1,000 billion had been spent to strengthen road infrastructure. Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier claimed that Balochistan would benefit the most from the 46 billion dollar project.
The PML-N CEC condemned the gross human rights violations by Indian forces and resolved that lasting peace in the country could not be achieved in the region without settlement of Kashmir issue. The CEC also condemned India’s unprovoked aggression along the LoC and offered fateha for the two army men killed in Indian shelling.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2016.